The BMW M1 is historic for its successes and for its failures. The final production car and subsequent race cars weren’t what BMW initially intended and yet today, they’re among some of the most beloved by fans. During our time at BMW’s 2023 Test Fest event, we had the chance to hop in the passenger seat of a 1981 M1 IMSA race car and enjoy some full-throttle laps. It was not a disappointment.
The M1 in any form is incredibly rare. BMW initially had huge racing plans that included F1, Lamborghini, and a big V8 engine. While none of that really came to fruition, the car that did finally make it to production still ended up being an icon. This race car, a 1981 M1 IMSA Group 4 endurance machine, is a result of everything that went right and wrong during development.
Specifically, this car raced at the 24 Hours of Daytona during the 1981 season. It features a 24-valve 3.5-liter inline-six engine with approximately 490 hp (365 kW). It sends that power to the rear wheels only via a five-speed manual gearbox built by ZF. According to BMW, it weighs just 2,866 pounds ( kg). Of course, add in the driver and myself and it’s a few hundred pounds more.
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Interestingly, this ride almost didn’t happen. BMW told me specifically, a guy who stands at six-foot-six, that I wouldn’t fit, and initially, upon attempting to, I wasn’t so sure either. The footwell is incredibly tight and requires one to shift their feet far toward the outside of the cabin.
The roof is obviously quite low so I had to pull out some contortionist tricks to fold into the M1. Nevertheless, I made it work despite not technically being fully seated with my back against the backrest itself.
Of the four race cars that BMW brought, the M1 was by far the most popular so rides were short but at the same time, they were oh-so sweet. Sit back, turn your speakers up, and enjoy the sights and sounds of a classic BMW M1 race car going full throttle at BMW Performance Center.